title: Dynamic interplay between CXCL levels in chronic hepatitis C patients treated by interferon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Combined pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin therapy has sustained virological response (SVR) rates of 54% to 61%. Pretreatment predictors of SVR to interferon therapy have not been fully investigated yet. The current study assesses a group of chemokines that may predict treatment response in Egyptian patients with chronic HCV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  CXCL5, CXCL9, CXCL11, CXCL12, CXCL 13, CXCL 16 chemokines and E-Cadherin were assayed in 57 chronic HCV patients' sera using quantitative ELISA plate method. All studied patients were scheduled for combined pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin therapy (32 patients received pegylated interferon α 2b, and 25 patients received pegylated interferon α 2a). Quantitative hepatitis C virus RNA was done by real time RT-PCR and HCV genotyping by INNOLIPAII.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in baseline HCV RNA levels between responders and non-responders to interferon. A statistically significant difference in CXCL13 (p = 0.017) and E-Cadherin levels (P = 0.041) was reported between responders and nonresponders at week 12. Significant correlations were found between changes in the CXCL13 levels and CXCL9, CXCL16, E-cadherin levels as well as between changes in E-cadherin levels and both CXCL16 and ALT levels that were maintained during follow up. Also, significant changes have been found in the serum levels of CXCL5, CXCL13, and CXCL16 with time (before pegylated interferon α 2 a and α 2 b therapy, and at weeks 12 and 24) with no significant difference in relation to interferon type and response to treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum levels of CXCL13 and E-Cadherin could be used as surrogate markers to predict response of combined PEG IFN-α/RBV therapy, especially at week 12. However, an extended study including larger number of patients is needed for validation of these findings.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT01758939.
authors.affiliation: Virology and Immunology Unit, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, 1st Kasr El-Aini st, Cairo, Egypt. ncizekri@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Abdel-Rahman N
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Zekri
authors.forename: Abeer A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bahnassy
authors.forename: Waleed S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Hanaa M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Alam El-Din
authors.forename: Hend I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Shousha
authors.forename: Naglaa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zayed
authors.forename: Dina H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Eldahshan
authors.forename: Ashraf Omar
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Abdel-Aziz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000097:blood; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015820:Cadherins; D018925:Chemokines; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012254:Ribavirin